Betty White Holds The World Record For Longest TV Career After 82 Years In The Industry

Holding a world record can be both very impressive and honestly kind of ridiculous at the same time. There are records for all kinds of things that are strange to take note of — the world's highest comedy show (in actual height, so no Cheech or Chong were present), the world's longest fingernails, the world's biggest pizza/pineapple/pumpkin/cucumber, etc. Sometimes it's hard to know if one is an honor or not.

Well, when it's awarded to Betty White, you know it's an honor.

Betty White is an absolute legend.

Betty's extensive career has spanned almost a century, although she's probably best known and loved for her portrayal of Rose Nylund on Golden Girls.

Betty White is 98 years old, and while she seems as young and spritely as ever, that does mean she's been in the business for a long time.

Betty White was playing an old woman on a show over 30 years ago, after all!

It's honestly so impressive that not only has she been an actress for so long, she's still doing it! I know if I ever make it to 98 years old, I better have been retired for at LEAST 30 of those years, or you're going to be hearing a LOT of complaining from me!

Betty isn't just an icon, legend, total babe, and hilarious person, though!

She's also a World Record Holder.

And not one of those silly ones you can fill out online, a real one from Guinness, and one that she should absolutely be proud of.

She's got the longest TV career of any entertainer, having started her TV career in 1939 — that's 82 years!

Betty technically only holds the award in the female category, but she beats out the record holder in the male category as well.

Betty was first given the title of record holder in 2014, and since then she's shown absolutely no signs of slowing down — she's even got a made-for-TV Christmas movie in the works at the age of 98!

For male TV entertainers, the record is held by the late Bruce Forsyth.

Bruce was a television presenter who had a television career spanning from 1939 to 2015, which is an incredible 76 years!

Betty is in very good company!

“I was astounded when [Guinness World Records] called to tell me. Who? Me!?! It’s such as honor," Betty said in 2014.

When it comes to her career, Betty added, "I have no regrets at all. None. I consider myself to be the luckiest old broad on two feet."

Betty also added that she's a big fan of the book itself.

"The book has always been fascinating to me. I can't believe I'm now associated with it. I am amazed at some of the records they keep. The longest fingernails?!?" Betty told them.

I definitely agree with you there!

She also talked about her first ever TV appearance.

"I danced on an experimental TV show, the first on the west coast, in downtown Los Angeles," Betty said.

"I wore my high school graduation dress and our Beverly Hills High student body president, Harry Bennett, and I danced the Merry Widow Waltz."

What I wouldn't give to see that!

Betty said her career just took off from there.

"Later, Al Jarvis (a disc jockey) asked me to sit in as his girl Friday (5 1/2 hours a day, six days a week.). Four years later, I inherited the show," she said.

Betty's advice for actors hoping to get close to her record some day is pretty sweet!

"I would advise actors to do their homework and take the time to appreciate their profession. It is a privilege to do what we do," she said.

Homework and hard work? I don't know if an actor's life is for me.

What an amazing feat! It really goes to show how long and how hard Betty's been working in her life.

Honestly, the Guinness Book Of World Records better get used to having Betty's name in that spot, because it's going to be a looooong time before someone usurps her throne (especially because, you know, Betty is obviously going to live and work forever).

Congrats on holding your title, Betty! When I get in the record book for drinking the most glasses of wine in one single night the next time my in-laws come over, we can have a little record-holder party together!

h/t: Guinness